FIR registered over bomb threat on IndiGo flight, handwritten samples of all fliers taken

An FIR was registered at the Airport Police Station after a handwritten bomb threat note was found inside an IndiGo aircraft operating a Goa–Ahmedabad flight on December 18, triggering a full-scale security response and delaying onward operations for several hours.

As per the First Information Report, IndiGo flight 6E 6208, which departed Goa at 5.47 pm was scheduled to land at Ahmedabad at 7.25 pm. It was airborne when an unidentified person allegedly wrote threatening messages on tissue papers inside the aircraft’s lavatory. The incident is reported to have occurred between 5.47 pm and around 6.30 pm.

The FIR states that the unknown person wrote 'YOU ALL DIE' in English with a black pen on a tissue paper found in the front washroom (LAV-E). Two other tissue papers were later recovered from behind the western-side lavatory area, on which 'BOMB ON PLANE' was written, also in English and with a black pen. Police have alleged that the messages were deliberately written despite the accused knowing that there was no bomb on board, thereby spreading fear among passengers and endangering the safety of the aircraft.

The complaint has been filed by Pareshbhai Prakashbhai Mansukhani (39), an Assistant Security Manager with IndiGo, who has been posted at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) Airport, Ahmedabad, for the past 14 years. In his statement, Mansukhani said he was on duty from 6 pm on December 18 to 1 am the following day when he received a call at 7.27 pm from IndiGo’s flight manager Santosh Yadav, informing him of a bomb threat on the Goa–Ahmedabad flight.

Following standard operating procedures, the aircraft was directed to the isolation bay upon landing at Ahmedabad. A Bomb Threat Committee meeting was convened at Terminal-1, and the threat was formally declared at 8.08 pm. All passengers were safely deboarded, and their baggage was subjected to thorough screening by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). The aircraft was subsequently searched by the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), dog squad, CISF personnel and IndiGo’s internal security team.

“No explosive or suspicious material was found during the checks,” as per a police official.

The three tissue papers bearing the threatening messages were produced before the authorities by a crew member for forensic examination. Investigators have obtained handwriting samples and signatures of all passengers who were on board the flight at the time. The handwritten notes have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for detailed analysis to help identify the person responsible.

Due to the bomb threat and subsequent security checks, the aircraft’s scheduled onward journey to Kolkata at 8 pm was cancelled, resulting in a delay of nearly five hours and disruption to air services, the complaint states.

Police have registered a case against an unknown person under relevant sections for issuing a false bomb threat and endangering aircraft safety. Statements of the pilot, co-pilot, cabin crew members, security staff and other concerned officials are being recorded as part of the investigation. Authorities have also sought the passenger manifest and crew list for further scrutiny.